With principal owner Fred Wilpon, general manager Sandy Alderson and Collins among those watching from behind a lineup of mounds at the Mets’ spring training complex, the 21-year-old Syndergaard’s 40-pitch session was the most anticipated event on the first day of workouts for pitchers and catchers.

The right-hander was told by Collins not to push too hard, but admitted the adrenaline kicked in once he stepped on the mound.

“I was pretty amped up,” Syndergaard said.

The expectation is Syndergaard will follow the path taken by Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler the last two years and join the Mets in June or July. But Syndergaard said his job is to make the decision as difficult as possible when team brass chooses an Opening Day roster.

As it stands, the Mets have Wheeler, Bartolo Colon, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee penciled into the rotation, with Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Lannan and Jenrry Mejia as the main competitors for the fifth spot.

With Syndergaard’s workload likely to be capped around 145 innings this season, his appearances for Triple-A Las Vegas could be limited in length. According to a club source, Syndergaard may face plenty of five-inning starts for Las Vegas.

Syndergaard — who arrived with Travis d’Arnaud in the trade that sent R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays before last season — split 2013 between Single-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton. Overall, he was 9-4 with a 3.06 ERA and struck out 133 batters in 117 ²/₃ innings.

“Right now I’m going into camp hoping to make the starting rotation,” Syndergaard said. “But if not, I know there is a bigger picture involved, and when the organization thinks I’m ready is when I’ll officially be ready, and I’ll look forward to being in New York.”

At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, Syndergaard is certainly an imposing presence.

“When you hear the guys on the team that are big saying, ‘My God, look at the size of this guy,’ that’s what is impressive,” Collins said.

Syndergaard indicated he spent much of the offseason trying to refine a changeup that can complement his fastball, curve and slider. He indicated he threw eight to 10 changeups on Monday and liked the results.

“I kind of impressed myself a little bit,” Syndergaard said.

There may not be a bullpen session by a Mets pitcher that gets as scrutinized this spring.

“I remember last year throwing my first bullpen and being pretty nervous as well,” Syndergaard said. “But this year really trumps it all. It was really nothing compared to this, having all the reporters and the brass in town. It was really cool.”

Especially given the circumstances, Syndergaard owned the day.

“With the headlines that he’s had, and everybody is standing around, it’s human nature to try and impress everybody, and he did,” Collins said. “He didn’t need to, because it’s going to count during the games, but he’s certainly a very impressive kid and exciting to watch.”

30 years ago there was a guy named Gooden who had the same stuff. He was 19 and Cashen wanted him in the minors. Davey Johnson said no. How did that work out? This team is so damn cheap its sickening. Why have this big headine and story if hes not going to be here? Now 2015 is our big year. Yeah Suurrrrre.

I don't really have a problem with holding off on Thor until June. Most owners, not just the Wilpons would do that with a kid who has a half season of AA ball. But the Dickey trade is looking like genius. All those who kill Alderson (who also made the amazing Wheeler trade for a Beltran rental) are idiots.

Assuming Harvey comes all the way back from TJ surgery, which now a days is the norm, you're looking at a starting rotation of Harvey, Wheeler, Syndergaard, Nies and Gee in 2015. Now I'm as pessimistic as the next guy when it comes to the Mets but wow that potentially could be an amazing staff. If the Wilpon's are still under water from the Madoff mess and therefore can't properly operate the team, then it's up to the Commissioner and the other owners to force them to sell the team. The Commissioner and owners are suppose to protect the interests of baseball. Having a team incapable of operating correctly due to something that occurred outside of baseball directly harms MLB. Of course Selig is riding out his final days, however, what a great way for a new commissioner to make an early splash.

Dice-K and Lanaan are a total waste, Mejia has shown flashes of brilliance but has been very injury prone. If this kid has an impressive spring then bring him up now! Why wait until June or July? What's the point?

The Mets will call him if when they can save money on super two status. they are pinching every penny as they have no cash to field a winning team. lets talk about that 600 million dollar loan due in 2015

@_ets Fan true, but the last two years have been Harvey and Wheeler, and both appear to be quite beastly. next year it'll be about Montero. Harvey should be back in full swing next year, giving us one great, and YOUNG, rotation. Harvey, Wheeler, Syndergaard, Gee, Hefner, Montero, Mejia....

Agree 100%. With or without Noah this team is not ready for prime time this year so why not make the move that makes business sense. Plus I'd like to see what Mejia can do when healthy for more than a week.

@BlackLabsRule i hated seeing RA go, but thought we got an offer that was way beyond what we could've expected in return and thought the trade was genius. also, never really liked Beltran, so when you can get a top pitching prospect in return, that was a no-brainer also. with Harvey presumably back and healthy next year, we're going to have THE BEST young pitching staff in baseball, hands down. If they can keep the group together, Harvey/Wheeler/Syndergaard/Neise/Montero have the stuff to be the next Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz/Avery/Millwood, hopefully with more titles.